Fort McMurray wildfire continues to burn
The wildfire continues to burn in the Fort McMurray area and NASA satellites continue to image the area. Fire conditions remain extreme in the province due to low humidity, high temperatures and wind according to the emergency updates being released by the Government of Alberta. The emergency update also reported that the following communities are under an evacuation order:
Fort McMurray Anzac Gregoire Lake Estates Fort McMurray First Nation
Residents of Fort McMurray should not expect to return home for an extended period of time. Public safety is our number-one priority, and residents won't be able to return home until it is safe to do so.
The latest update was provided by the Government of Alberta on May 8, 2016 at 4:15 p.m. It is as follows:
"Currently there are more than 500 firefighters battling the blaze in and around Fort McMurray, along with 15 helicopters, 14 air tankers and 88 other pieces of equipment.
Yesterday's plan (on May 07) to evacuate 25,000 residents who fled north of Fort McMurray was a success. As of 10:00am, no evacuees have been reported remaining in camps to the north. 300 people from Fort McKay were evacuated to the Edmonton area by air and ground. This was a precautionary evacuation due to heavy smoke in the area.
1,500 employees at the Syncrude facility were evacuated on May 7 and the facility was shut down. Groups of employees have also been evacuated from the Suncor, Husky, Shell and CNRL facilities. Many of these facilities are still operating. 250 ATCO employees are in Fort McMurray working to restore the power grid and assess the gas infrastructure.
The wildfire is currently 161,000 hectares (397,800+ acres) and is anticipated to grow overnight.
Fire conditions remain extreme, with four new starts across Alberta yesterday. A total of 34 wildfires are burning, with five out of control, 23 under control and six turned over to the responsible parties.
More than 1,500 firefighters, approximately 150 helicopters, 222 pieces of heavy equipment and more than 28 air tankers are fighting the fires across the province.
Temperature forecast for Sunday is 18°C (64 degrees F) with winds gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph). There is the potential for showers in the Fort McMurray area."
The smoke billowing away from the fires is headed out across the Atlantic Ocean and the Aqua satellite captured this image of its movement eastward. The smoke released by any type of fire (forest, brush, crop, structure, tires, waste or wood burning) is a mixture of particles and chemicals produced by incomplete burning of carbon-containing materials. All smoke contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter (PM or soot). Because of this exposure to high levels of smoke should be avoided.
Source: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Other sources
- Canada wildfire: Ninety percent of Alberta town survived blaze; flames have charred 750 square milesfrom UPITue, 10 May 2016, 21:00:55 UTC
- Huge Canadian Wildfire Spotted from Space (Photos)from Space.comMon, 9 May 2016, 18:01:00 UTC
- Fort McMurray wildfire continues to burnfrom PhysorgMon, 9 May 2016, 16:01:19 UTC
- Canada's Suncor: Fires moving awayfrom UPIMon, 9 May 2016, 13:30:59 UTC
- Fort McMurray blaze among most 'extreme' of wildfires, says researcherfrom PhysorgMon, 9 May 2016, 13:01:07 UTC
- Official: About 20 percent of Fort McMurray homes destroyed in wildfirefrom UPIMon, 9 May 2016, 12:30:52 UTC
- Fort McMurray wildfire slows slightly as it nears Saskatchewanfrom UPIMon, 9 May 2016, 1:00:49 UTC
- Fort McMuray wildfire slows slightly as it nears Saskatchewafrom UPIMon, 9 May 2016, 0:30:44 UTC
- Fort McMuray wildwire slows slightly as it nears Saskatchewafrom UPISun, 8 May 2016, 22:00:45 UTC
- Massive Alberta wildfire expected to burn for monthsfrom PhysorgSun, 8 May 2016, 18:31:03 UTC
- Officials hope to complete Alberta wildfire evacuationfrom AP ScienceSun, 8 May 2016, 3:01:03 UTC
- Canadian wildfire expected to double in size, evacuation continuesfrom UPISat, 7 May 2016, 12:30:45 UTC
- Canadian wildfire grows to 250K acres; evacuation halted by massive flames; gov't pledges $100Mfrom UPIFri, 6 May 2016, 23:00:50 UTC
- Convoy of evacuees rolls through wildfire-ravaged Canadian townfrom UPIFri, 6 May 2016, 15:30:54 UTC
- Canada wildfire: More than 200K acres burned; some blazes 'out of control'; evacuees forced to flee againfrom UPIThu, 5 May 2016, 20:20:48 UTC
- 'Perfect storm' boosted Alberta firesfrom BBC News: Science & NatureThu, 5 May 2016, 15:20:47 UTC
- Alberta oil facilities remain under fire threatfrom UPIThu, 5 May 2016, 10:50:48 UTC
- Fort McMurray wildfire burning so hot only weather can stop itfrom CBC: Technology & ScienceThu, 5 May 2016, 9:30:48 UTC
- Canada wildfire: Nearly 100K evacuated; hundreds of homes lost; neighborhoods reduced to ashfrom UPIWed, 4 May 2016, 20:50:56 UTC
- Massive wildfire forces evacuation of nearly entire city in northwest Canada; several homes torchedfrom UPIWed, 4 May 2016, 1:20:49 UTC